Jamming feature



Oct. 19, 1965 w. F. BROSKE 3,212,535

JAMMING FEATURE Filed Jan. 10, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 6Ros E WM BYEZSZQW W United States Patent 3,212,535 JAMMING FEATURE William F.Broske, Camp Hill, Pa., assignor to AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa.Filed Jan. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 337,056 8 Claims. (Cl. 140-413) This is acontinuation-in-part of my earlier filed application, Serial No.215,562, filed August 8, 1962, of the same title.

In the art of making pressure-type electrical connections, it isfrequently desirable to employ a powderactuated tool to provide thepower to form the connection. In a typical application, conductors aregrasped between a wedge and a C-shaped member to make a stableconnection. This type of connection is described in a prior application,Serial No. 172,183, filed February 9, 1962.

It is an object of this invention to provide a new and improvedpowder-actuated tool for causing this type of connection to be formed. Aspecific improvement in the tool resides in the use of a minimum numberof parts, thus providing a simple mechanism for permitting the tool tobe fired.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a tool which may beactuated by striking it with a hammer or a pair of pliers, whereby thereaction force drives the firing pin against the primer to detonate theexplosive charge.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a safetyfeature in the tool to lock the plunger in place if the tool isaccidentally fired.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the followingdetailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings inwhich there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of theinvention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is notintended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given forpurposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art mayfully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the mannerof applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in variousforms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a perspective view of a tool made according to theprinciples of the invention and showing a connector and conductorstherein;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the device of FIGURE 1without the connector and conductors;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the tool after firing;

FIGURES 4-6 illustrate the tool of FIGURE 1 in the prefired, firing andpost-fired conditions (respectively); and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an alternativeembodiment of the invention.

As shown in FIGURES 1 and 46, a pair of conductors C and C are adaptedto be disposed within a C- shaped connector body A, having a slidablewedge W designed to hold the connectors in place as described above.

The tool includes a body member B, and a firing mechanism F. The bodymember is comprised of a flat, planar member 10 adapted to receive aconnector body A, of the type disclosed in the previous application.This planar member 10 is supported by a longitudinal rib 12, and has apost 14 at one end to restrain the conductor and connector during thecrimping operation. A second post 16 at the opposite end is adapted toreceive the barrel of the firing member. The post 14 has a pair ofrecessed portions 18 and 20 which permit the conductors C and C to bereceived therein. Post 14 also has a lip 22 projecting toward the otherpost 16 which fits over the top of the connector body A when theconnector and conductors are in place (see FIGURE 1).

The firing mechanism F (FIGURES 2, 3 and 5) includes a barrel 24 withexternal screw threads 26 which mate with screw threads 28 on anaperture 30 in the post 16. The barrel 24 is longitudinally coaxial withthe wedge W. The central section of the barrel 24 contains an opening 32which retains a firing pin 34 slidably therein. The opening 32 isundercut at 36 to permit sliding motion of a shoulder 38 on the firingpin 34.

The opposite end of the opening is also undercut at 40, forming anabutment 41, to accept a shoulder 42 on the other end of the firing pin.The length (FIGURE 2) of the undercut 40 is greater than the length ofthe shoulder 42 to permit movement of the firing pin 34 so that it canslide in a direction away from the Wedge W. The abutment 41 limitslongitudinal travel of the firing pin 34. The barrel 24- is furtherrecessed at 43 to permit an explosive shell 44 to be inserted therein.

The explosive shell is disclosed in my prior application, Serial No.793,814, filed February 17, 1959 (now Patent No. 3,007,409), andincludes a cylindrical member 46 sealed at one end 48, and having a plug50 seated therein. The plug 50 retains a powder charge 52 and also has aprimer 54 on its outer surface. A projection 56 on the inner end of theshoulder 38 operates to detonate the primer 54, thus igniting the powdercharge 52. The shell has a shoulder 58 which seats on. one end of thebarrel 24 to support it therein.

A cap 60 is threaded over the end of the barrel 24 and has a pin 62 onits inside surface which punctures the sealed end of the shell 44. Theouter surface of the barrel 24 may contain radially-extending ridges 64to permit the operator to grasp the barrel more easily. Also, a ring 66may be attached to the rib 12 to permit the operator to suspend thedevice from a peg or his belt when not in use.

At the outer end of undercut 36, there is an abutting surface 68opposite abutment 41. A ring 70 of malleable material is disposed inengagement with abutting surface 68 (see FIGURE 7). Ring 70 may be anysuitable plastic material, metal or alloy thereof.

The function of ring 70 is to provide a safety means whereby if the toolis accidentally fired, as by dropping or otherwise, the outer end ofshoulder 38 engages ring 70 with sufficient force to deform same andthereby wedge firing pin 34 in a locked position.

This feature has the advantage that the tool cannot be operated againuntil the firing pin has been unlocked or unjammed and this serves toallow inspection of the tool in order to determine whether or not thetool has been damaged to the extent that further operation thereof mightcause injury to the operator. The firing pin can be unjammed byapplication of pressure or heat depending upon the material of ring 70.While ring 70 has been illustrated and described as containing aparticular configuration, it is obvious that it can assume many otherdesirable configurations that will effect the desired result.

Operatiom-When it is desired to make an electrical connection, theconnector body A is fitted on the planar member 10 with the lip 22securing it therein. The conductors C and C are inserted in oppositearms of the connector with the wedge W therebetween. The barrel 24, withthe firing pin therein, is thread-ed into the post 16. A shell 44 isforced into the firing chamber in the barrel with the shoulder 38 of thefiring pin projecting into the shell. The shoulder 42 on the firing pinis re- 3 tained within the undercut 40 by the wedge W, while allowingrearward movement of the firing pin.

A cap 60 is threaded onto the outer surface of the barrel 24 with thepin 62 puncturing the closed end of the shell. The cap is then struck asharp blow with a hammer or a pair of pliers, and the reaction from theblow causes the firing pin 34 to move toward the primer 54 withsufficient force to cause detonation. This ignites the powder charge 52and the plug 50 is driven forward, forcing the firing pin 34 ahead ofit. The firing pin 34 drives the wedge W into the connector body A, thustightly securing the conductors C and C between the wedge W and theconnector body A.

After the connection is made, the cap 60 may be unthreaded from thebarrel and the release of the cap and the pin 62 permits burnt gases toescape from the shell. This relaxes the shell and permits it to beremoved rather easily. The firing pin may be moved rearwardly to drivethe shell 44 partially out of the chamber, thus permitting easy accessto it. The tool is then ready to make another connection.

Changes in construction will occur to those skilled in the art andvarious apparently different modifications and embodiments may be madewithout departing from the scope of the invention. The matter set forthin the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by wayof illustration only. The actual scope of the invention is intended tobe defined in the following claims when viewed in their properperspective against the prior art.

I claim:

1. A device for making electrical connections comprising a body member,means for holding a connector body on said body member in whichelectrical conductors are adapted to be disposed, explosively-operatedmeans on said body member, a firing chamber in said explosively operatedmeans for receiving an explosive shell, firing pin means movably mountedin said firing chamber, one end of said firing pin means adpated to restwithin said explosive shell for actuating same, the other end of saidfiring pin means adapted to engage a wedge member disposed within saidconnector body upon firing of said explosive shell to drive said wedgemember securely within said connector body, and jamming means in saidfiring chamber to lock said firing pin means in a locked position whenthe firing pin means moves beyond an effective operating position.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said explosively-operated meansis adjustable on said body member to accommodate different sizes of saidconnector body and wedge member.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein said jamming means includes aring of malleable material-which is engaged by an enlarged portion ofsaid firing pin means.

4. In an explosively-operated device, a mounting means, firing means onsaid mounting means, said firing means having a firing chamber adaptedto receive an explosive shell therein, a firing pin movably mounted insaid firing means for detonating said explosive shell, and jamming meansin said firing means adjacent said firing pin to engage and lock saidfiring pin in an inoperative position when the firing pin has movedbeyond a normally operative position.

5. A press comprising a frame having a work area thereon for receivingworkpieces on which work is to be performed, said work area including amovable member and a stationary member, one of said movable andstationary members having a cartridge-receiving chamber in which acartrdige is to be disposed, firing pin means movably mounted in saidcartridge-receiving chamber for detonating said cartridge, an operatingmember movable under the force of the detonation of said cartridge intosaid work area, and jamming means in said cartridge-receiving chamberfor engaging said operating member to lock the same in an inoperativeposition when the operating member moves beyond a normally operativeposition.

6. A press according to claim 5 wherein said cartridgereceiving chamberis in said movable member which is adjustably mounted on said frame.

7. A press according to claim 5 wherein said jamming means includes amalleable piece of material which upon sufiicient engagement by saidfiring pin means wedges same into said inoperative position.

8. An explosively-operated device for'performing useful work comprisinga frame, a handle on said frame, a work area on said frame between saidhandle and a stationary member thereon, means in said frame forgenerating an explosive force, a ram member movably mounted in saidhandle, said ram member having a detonat-ing pin thereon for engagingsaid means for generating an explosive force and an element for movinginto said work area, and jamming means on said frame for engaging saidram member to lock same in an inoperative position when said ram memberhas moved beyond a normally operative position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,968,043 1/61Der'nler 1-215 3,060,437 -10/62 Henning et al. 1-44.5

CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

4. IN A EXPLOSIVELY-OPERATED DEVICE, A MOUNTING MEANS, FIRING MEANS ONSAID MOUNTING MEANS, SAID FIRING MEANS HAVING A FIRING CHAMBER ADAPTEDTO RECEIVE AN EXPLOSIVE SHELL THEREIN, A FIRING PIN MOVABLY MOUNTED INSAID FIRING MEANS FOR DETONATING SAID EXPLOSIVE SHELL, AND JAMMING MEANSIN SAID FIRING MEANS ADJACENT SAID FIRING PIN TO ENGAGE AND LOCK SAIDFIRING PIN IN AN INOPERATIVE POSITION WHEN THE FIRING PIN HAS MOVEDBEYOND A NORMALLY OPERATIVE POSITION.